A hopping game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A hopping game apparatus for children having a longitudinal semiflexible tubular bar supported at each end by a pair of semiflexible legs with each leg having a formed foot designed to prevent the lower ends of the legs from jamming into the ground, the legs being of equal length such as to maintain the longitudinal bar horizontal. Extending laterally from each side of the longitudinal bar are a plurality of pairs of semiflexible rods that are horizontal and at right angles to the longitudinal bar. The pairs of rods are equally longitudinally spaced from each other along the length of the longitudinal bar to provide between opposed rods on each side of the longitudinal bar hopping zones, or stations, for a child, the purpose of the game apparatus being to provide and/or permit a child to hop, highstep, skip, jump, leap or twist in midair to an about face turn from one zone or station to another, from one end of the apparatus to the other, or from side to side, or along one side and back on the other side. In accordance with rules established for the game there is provided a plurality of multicolored rings that a child can move from one rod to another rod when it successfully accomplishes the desired or selected action in moving from one zone or station to another.

limited Mates Patent Wetllwiellt 51 AMAAM ,llan. 11%, 11972 154]ll-llfllPlP'llNG GAME APPARATUS [72] Inventor: Zygmund Nedwicllt, c/oAthletic Devices,

Inc., Box 161,Glen Cove, NY. 11542 [22] Filed: Sept. 19, 1969 [21]App1.No.: 860,173

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Paul E. ShapiroAttorney-Carl Miller [5 7] ABSTRACT A hopping game apparatus forchildren having a longitudinal semiflexible tubular bar supported ateach end by a pair of semiflexible legs with each leg having a formedfoot designed to prevent the lower ends of the legs from jamming intothe ground, the legs being of equal length such as to maintain thelongitudinal bar horizontal. Extending laterally from each side of thelongitudinal bar are a plurality of pairs of semifiexible rods that arehorizontal and at right angles to the longitudinal bar. The pairs ofrods are equally longitudinally spaced from each other along the lengthof the longitudinal bar to provide between opposed rods on each side ofthe longitudinal bar hopping zones, or stations, for a child, thepurpose of the game apparatus being to provide and/or permit a child tohop, highstep, skip, jump, leap or twist in midair to an about face turnfrom one zone or station to another, lfrom one end of the apparatus tothe other, or from side to side, or along one side and back on the otherside. In accordance with rules established for the game there isprovided a plurality of multicolored rings that a child can move fromone rod to another rod when it successfully accomplishes the desired orselected action in moving from one zone or station to another.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures A HUPPING GAME APPARATUS This inventionrelates to a ground-supported game ap paratus and has for its primaryobject a game device somewhat of the nature of a hopscotch court, theinstant form of apparatus being a three-dimensional game having heightrequiring the player to move bodily vertically as well as either forwardor backward in contradistinction to the conventional hopscotch courtwhich is two-dimensional in which the player advances a marker as hemoves along numbered squares without touching lines.

Another object of this invention relates to the provision of anapparatus of this character which is especially useful although by nomeans necessary, for children of various ages which is particularlyadaptable in developing coordination, the ability to discern left fromright, self-organization of a neuromuscular act in order to performskilled movements and which in addition will also provide healthfulbody-building exercise particularly for the ankle and leg muscles.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of thischaracter formed of a longitudinal bar, horizontally supported by a pairof legs at each end, the longitudinal bar having along the lengththereof pairs of aligned horizontal transverse rods at right angles tothe longitudinal bar, providing elevated zones or stations betweenopposed rods at each side of the longitudinal bar.

A further object of this invention is to form the longitudinal bar, legsand rods of a semiflexible material so as to give when struck by aplayer.

Another object of this invention is to have the legs inclined downwardlyand outwardly from the ends of the longitudinal bar with each leg formedat its lower end with a lateral foot such as to obviate the leg frompenetrating into the ground when the bar, rod or leg is accidentallystruck by a player, the legs having a spreading action when the bar isstruck or pushed down towards the ground.

Still another object of this invention includes the use of rings thatmay be multicolored that are moved by a player from one rod to anotherrod on completion of a successful hop or other physical action from onezone or station to another, it being contemplated that the gameapparatus will be used by a number of players who will each use a ringof a selected color.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the descriptionproceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention maybe embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that change may be made in the specificconstruction illustrated and described within the the scope of theappended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game apparatus showing the ringsused by the players on one of the rods thereof.

FIG. 2 is an and-elevational view of the game apparatus.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail the hopping game apparatusis seen to consist of a central longitudinal tubular bar 12 preferably apolyethylene tube of at least Ila-inch diameter and 60 inches in length,though obviously the dimensions may vary to suit requirements dictatedby size, use and manufacture. While the central longitudinal tubular bar12 is of polyethylene which has the desirable characteristics ofsemiflexibility, strength and lightness in weight it is to be understoodthat the same may be made of any other suitable material.

At each end of the tubular bar 12 there is provided legs M, l5, l6 and17. Legs l4, 15 comprise a pair at one end of the tubular bar 12 andlegs l6, 17 comprise a pair at the other end of the tubular bar. Thelegs 14, 15, 16 and 17 may be of any desired semiflexible material butpreferably are made of nylon rod at least three-eighth inch in diameter,and tapering slightly towards their bottom terminal end. Each leg at itsupper end is threaded as at 19 for a portion of its length and carriesat its lower end of the threaded portion 119 a clamping nut 20 of thespeed-nut" type. A dual pair of aligned openings are provided in thetubular bar 12 in longitudinally spaced relation, see FIG. ii, and eachPair of openings is disposed at substantially 45 to the vertical planeat the axis of the tubular bar 12, see FIG. 2. Fitted in each pair ofaligned inclined openings is the threaded upper end of a leg which isrecured to the tubular bar 12 by its clamp nut 20 and an end push-on cap22. This construction makes for ease of assembly and disassembly. Thelower end portions of the legs 14, 115, 116, 117 are each curvedoutwardly to provide a ground-engaging foot 24 that is slightly arcuateas seen in F IGS. l and 2. The curved formation of the feet 24 willprevent the legs from penetrating into the ground should a strikingforce by a player engage the tubular bar 12. Due to the semiflexiblenature of the nylon legs M, 115, 116, 17 and the slightly taperedformation thereof it will be seen that the legs of each pair will spreadapart outwardly on impact on the tubular bar and that the feet 24lthereof will move or slide laterally outwardly in a direction away fromthe tubular bar.

The legs l4, l5, l6 and 17 are of equal length and the feet 24 thereofare similarly formed such that the tubular bar 112 will be supported ina horizontal position above the ground; the legs being so dimensionedand positioned at to support the tubular bar 12 at approximately 8inches above the ground level.

Suitably positioned in spaced longitudinal relation along thelongitudinal tubular bar 12 are a plurality of pairs of rods 30, 31; 32,33; 34, 35 and 36, 37. Each pair of rods, may in fact, constitute asingle unitary rod formed preferably of fiberglass tapering from itscenter portion which is preferably of at least 5/32-inch diametertowards its ends. The center portion The center portion of each rod isof uniform diameter and is functionally fitted or otherwise suitablysecured in aligned horizontal openings in the longitudinal tubular bar12, see FIG. 2, so that the rod sections 30, 31; 32, 33; 3d, 35 and 36,37 making up each pair of rods are horizontal and in the same plane andof equal length, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Preferably the end most rods 3t), 31 and as, 37 are respectivelydisposed between the connections of legs 14, i5, and 16, 17, as seen inFIG. I and the aligned pairs of rods are equally spaced apartapproximately 20 inches to provide three zones or stations A, A; B, B;and C, C at each side of the longitudinal tubular bar 112.

The above-described game apparatus which may be called Hopsie may beused by four to six players this being practi ea] in consideration ofwaiting time. it is considered that the players will be children and inthe use of the above apparatus there is provided a ring 40 for eachchild] player. Each ring M] which may be of plastic is of a differentcolor so as to identify each player.

The playing of the game involves hopping, high-stepping, skipping,jumping (to both feet), leaping (to one foot), twisting in midair to anabout-face turn, and combinations of these movement skills in series,while progressing over the rods from zone or station, as for examplefrom A to B to C; or from A to A, to B to B, to C to C; or from A to Bto C and back again to C to B to A, these movements from station tostation requiring that the player not touch the rods or the tubular bar.As the player moves from station to station regardless of the nature ofhis bodily movement he will indicate his successful achievement ofreaching a station by placing his ring on the rod in the path of hismovement. Thus if he hops into station A successfully he will place hisring on rod 33. in other words using child play language in playing thegame one-sic"; twosie," etc., the player would place his ring over thefirst rod 311. If one-sie" is completed by entering station A withouttouching any part of the apparatus the player removes the ring from rod31 and hangs it over the two-sic" rod 33 (next in line)and so on.

It is seen that the object of the game is to perform the various bodilymovement skills in an order as may be prescribed in an established rulesof the game" while avoiding touching of any parts of the apparatus aswell as the rings which may be hanging at various stations indicatingthe progress made by the players. A touching or misstep indicates theend of the players turn with a penalty of no advance.

Some suggested skill movements in the playing of the game are asfollows:

ONE-STE-l-li-Step," over each rod; Skip over each rod on return.TWO-SlE-Straddle-jump into first and second squares; jump-twist twice inthe second squares; continue; repeat on return.

THREE-SlEWaltz, three-step in each square, traversing down; repeat onreturn. FOUR-SlE-Winding path," cross-step the central tube, skip-hop oneach foot; repeat on return.

FlVE-SlE-Around the World, lead laterally with near foot, travel downone side and return on the opposite side. SlX-SlEBunny-Hop, jump bothfeet into each square, traverse across tube and forward; repeat onreturn. SEVEN-SIE Pogo-Stick," leap to second square on outside foot,step across tube, hop back one with inside foot, etc.,ElGl-lT-SlE--Whirligig, straddle-jump to second squares, jump-twist,return to first squares, twist, repeat etc., NINE- SIE-Angel walks,place ring on head as halo, rock-step laterally, one foot in left oddsquares only, the other foot in right squares only, travel down length,and repeat on return. Halo must not fall.

I claim: 7

1. A hopping apparatus comprising:

a. a longitudinal bar,

b. a pair of diverging legs removably secured to each end of thelongitudinal bar supporting the same in a horizontal position above asupporting surface,

c. a pair of transversely aligned flexible rods extending laterally fromsaid longitudinal bar in substantially uniformly spaced relationtherealong,

whereby to provide a series of juxtaposed play stations for a player ateach side of the longitudinal bar,

wherein:

d. said longitudinal bar is semiflexible and formed of a nonmetallicmaterial,

c. said legs being formed of a semiflexible nonmetallic material, and

f. each said leg terminating at its lower end in a laterally outwardlydirected arcuate foot,

whereby said longitudinal bar and said flexible rods under impact willimpart a spreading action to said legs to cause the feet thereof to movealong the supporting surface.

2. A hopping apparatus comprising:

a. a longitudinal bar,

b. a pair of diverging legs removably secured to each end of thelongitudinal bar supporting the same in a horizontal position above asupporting surface,

c. a pair of transversely aligned flexible rods extending laterally fromsaid longitudinal bar in substantially uniformly relation therealong,

whereby to provide a series of juxtaposed play stations for a player ateach side of the longitudinal bar,

wherein:

d. said longitudinal bar is formed of a semiflexible tube of plasticmaterial,

e. said legs being formed of a semiflexible plastic material,

f. said rods being formed of a flexible material,

wherein: g. the plastic material of the longitudinal bar ispolyethylene,

h. the plastic material of said legs is nylon, and

i. the flexible material of said rods is fiberglass,

wherein:

j. there being a dual pair of oppositely inclined aligned openings ateach end portion of the longitudinal tubular bar with one pair ofinclined openings of each dual pair in longitudinally spaced relation tothe other pair of oppositely inclined openings,

k. the inclination of said aligned pairs of openings being substantially45 to a vertical plane through the longitudinal axis of the tubular bar,I. each leg at its upper end extending through a pair of said alignedinclined openings including fastener elements thereon for removablysecuring each leg to said tubular bar, wherein:

said fastener elements for each leg comprises:

m. a lower clamp nut threaded on the upper end portion of each legengaging one side of the tubular bar,

n. a push on cap fitted on the terminal end of eachleg engaging theopposite side of the tubular bar,

wherein:

0. each said leg tapers downwardly to its lower end, and

p. an arcuate foot formed at the lower end of each leg directedlaterally outwardly with reference to said tubular bar, and

whereby said tubular bar under impact will cause legs to spread apartoutwardly with their foot portions sliding over the supporting surface.

0. the tapering rod sections of each unitary rod extending horizontallyand laterally outwardly from the tubular bar,

3. The hopping game apparatus of claim 2, wherein said pairs of alignedlaterally extending rods constitute:

(a) a single unitary rod for each pair having a central portion ofuniform diameter and tapering outwardly towards each terminal endthereof,

(b) there being horizontally aligned pairs of openings in the tubularbar each pair fixedly receiving therein the central portion of a unitaryrod,

d. said tapering rod sections being of equal length and lying in thesame horizontal plane.

4. The hopping game apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

a. the central portion of the end most unitary rod at each end of thetubular bar providing an end pair of rod sections is positioned betweenthe dual pair of aligned inclined openings within which the upper endsof the end pair of legs are fitted and secured.

5. The hopping game apparatus of claim 4, including:

a. a plurality of different colored ring members,

b. each ring member of a designated color identifying a player, and

c. said rod sections receiving a ring member of a player either beforeor after a bodily movement action of a player to identify and signal thesuccess of the bodily movement of the player from one play station toanother as defined by said rod sections.

1. A hopping apparatus comprising: a. a longitudinal bar, b. a pair ofdiverging legs removably secured to each end of the longitudinal barsupporting the same in a horizontal position above a supporting surface,c. a pair of transversely aligned flexible rods extending laterally fromsaid longitudinal bar in substantially uniformly spaced relationtherealong, whereby to provide a series of juxtaposed play stations fora player at each side of the longitudinal bar, wherein: d. saidlongitudinal bar is semiflexible and formed of a nonmetallic material,e. said legs being formed of a semiflexible nonmetallic material, and f.each said leg terminating at its lower end in a laterally outwardlydirected arcuate foot, whereby said longitudinal bar and said flexiblerods under impact will impart a spreading action to said legs to causethe feet thereof to move along the supporting surface.
 2. A hoppingapparatus comprising: a. a longitudinal bar, b. a pair of diverging legsremovably secured to each end of the longitudinal bar supporting thesame in a horizontal position above a supporting surface, c. a pair oftransversely aligned flexible rods extending laterally from saidlongitudinal bar in substantially uniformly relation therealong, wherebyto provide a series of juxtaposed play stations for a player at eachside of the longitudinal bar, wherein: d. said longitudinal bar isformed of a semiflexible tube of plastic material, e. said legs beingformed of a semiflexible plastic material, f. said rods being formed ofa flexible material, wherein: g. the plastic material of thelongitudinal bar is polyethylene, h. the plastic material of said legsis nylon, and i. the flexible material of said rods is fiberglass,wherein: j. there being a dual pair of oppositely inclined alignedopenings at each end portion of the longitudinal tubular bar with onepair of inclined openings of each dual pair in longitudinally spacedrelation to the other pair of oppositely inclined openings, k. theinclination of said aligned pairs of openings being substantially 45* toa vertical plane through the longitudinal axis of the tubular bar, l.each leg at its upper end extending through a pair of said alignedinclined openings including fastener elements thereon for removablysecuring each leg to said tubular bar, wherein: said fastener elementsfor each leg comprises: m. a lower clamp nut threaded on the upper endportion of each leg engaging one side of the tubular bar, n. a push oncap fitted on the terminal end of each leg engaging the opposite side ofthe tubular bar, wherein: o. each said leg tapers downwardly to itslower end, and p. an arcuate foot formed at the lower end of each legdirected laterally outwardly with reference to said tubular bar, andwhereby said tubular bar under impact will cause legs to spread apartoutwardly with their foot portions sliding over the supporting surface.c. the tapering rod sections of each unitary rod extending horizontallyand laterally outwardly from the tubular bar,
 3. The hopping gameapparatus of claim 2, wherein said pairs of aligned laterally extendingrods constitute: (a) a single unitary rod for each pair having a centralportion of uniform diameter and tapering outwardly towards each terminalend thereof, (b) there being horizontally aligned pairs of openings inthe tubular bar each pair fixedly receiving therein the central portionof a unitary rod, d. said tapering rod sections being of equal lengthand lying in the same horizontal plane.
 4. The hopping game apparatus ofclaim 3 wherein: a. the central portion of the end most unitary rod ateach end of the tubular bar providing an end pair of rod sections ispositioned between the dual pair of aligned inclined openings withinwhich the upper ends of the end pair of legs are fitted and secured. 5.The hopping game apparatus of claim 4, including: a. a plurality ofdifferent colored ring members, b. each ring member of a designatedcolor identifying a player, and c. said rod sections receiving a ringmember of a player either before or after a bodily movement action of aplayer to identify and signal the success of the bodily movement of theplayer from one play station to another as defined by said rod sections.